Darkwire: Send Bitcoin without internet access

[sokani]

I came across this open-source project called Darkwire and I thought it's worth sharing. It's still in the developmental phase and was submitted for the Hackathon Bitcoin 2025 conference. It tends to address some of the challenges faced by Bitcoiners who live in areas where internet connection is unavailable ^{[either nonexistent or infrastructures are damaged by natural disaster]} or controlled ^{[taken offline by the the authorities].}

Darkwire mode of operation?
It's designed for sending both Bitcoin transactions and simple text messages offline.



How do I send Bitcoin?
First, you'll have to specify the receiving address as well as the amount in the Darkwire GUI or local wallet managed by bitcoinlib and tap on "generate transaction." The system will generate a signed Bitcoin transaction in hexadecimal format, which is further fragmented into smaller packets and transmitted to a nearby node via radio.

How does Darkwire work?
Basically, Darkwire makes use of two key components: the Long Range Radio transceiver (LoRa) and microcontrollers (Ardoino UNO) to form a mesh of decentralized network. These are connected to multiple nodes that are within a distance range of 10 km or less, depending on the population density of the area. When a raw Bitcoin transaction is created, the Darkwire node receives the transaction and transmit it wirelessly. That is, it hops from node to node until it gets to an exit node(with an internet connection), where it is picked up and verified by a miner and broadcasted to the Bitcoin network.

Currently, Darkwire supports Bitcoin only but the developer plans to add Ethereum and Monero in the future.

References:

• https://github.com/cyb3r17/darkwire
• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsVZjViFdM
• https://decrypt.co/322192/project-send-bitcoin-without-internet-access

[notocactus]

It's not kind of completely new idea and technology that has actually been developing for about 5 years or longer as you see.
[Total privacy Bitcoin]: off grid Transactions LoRaWan/goTenna.

To be honest, I don't read it carefully and I don't know that what you shared has any sort of new developments/ enhancements compares to what was written in that 5-year old topic.

[Apocollapse]

Here's the thing I get from watch the video:

1. The receiver need to connect to internet.
2. Both sender and receiver need to have the hardware.
3. The range of one node is up to 10km, it requires more nodes if you want to send it further.

Yeah it doesn't wrong to say send Bitcoin without internet access because it only talks about sending Bitcoin, not Bitcoin usage without internet access.

[sokani]

It's not kind of completely new idea and technology that has actually been developing for about 5 years or longer as you see.
[Total privacy Bitcoin]: off grid Transactions LoRaWan/goTenna.

To be honest, I don't read it carefully and I don't know that what you shared has any sort of new developments/ enhancements compares to what was written in that 5-year old topic.

Thanks for sharing mate. Five years is a long period of time, and I wonder what challenges the developer encountered that stopped him from seeing it through. I hope Darkwire doesn't stop halfway since it's still a work in progress.

Here's the thing I get from watch the video:

1. The receiver need to connect to internet.

When you say receiver, mind you, it's not only one node that receives the transaction. Many nodes get to receive the transaction. However, it keeps hopping from node to node until it gets to an exit node, which pushes the transaction through to the Bitcoin blockchain.

[dkbit98]

I saw similar projects before, but for Darkwire you need at least one node in the network needs to be connected to the internet.

Only realistic way for easily giving bitcoin to someone without internet is to use something like Satochip Satodime cards with pre-loaded Bitcoin.
This is physical card you are giving someone as a gift, just like you would give someone euro or dollar paper bills.
https://satochip.io/product/satodime/

[BIT-BENDER]

I saw similar projects before, but for Darkwire you need at least one node in the network needs to be connected to the internet.

That means you can't send Bitcoin without having Internet connection completely on Darkwire.
I am not aware of this Darkwire but I would love to ask are there any downside to this, what are things that can go wrong and how can someone mitigate risk using this Darkwire.

[NotATether]

Here's the thing I get from watch the video:

1. The receiver need to connect to internet.
2. Both sender and receiver need to have the hardware.
3. The range of one node is up to 10km, it requires more nodes if you want to send it further.

Yeah it doesn't wrong to say send Bitcoin without internet access because it only talks about sending Bitcoin, not Bitcoin usage without internet access.

There is also another dimension that is not talked about in that video.

In some countries, using unauthorized radios and frequencies are illegal, and you cannot even import the items into the country. This makes it really hard to use radios for these purposes as they want to regulate all communications.

[m2017]

How does Darkwire work?
Basically, Darkwire makes use of two key components: the Long Range Radio transceiver (LoRa) and microcontrollers (Ardoino UNO) to form a mesh of decentralized network. These are connected to multiple nodes that are within a distance range of 10 km or less, depending on the population density of the area. When a raw Bitcoin transaction is created, the Darkwire node receives the transaction and transmit it wirelessly. That is, it hops from node to node until it gets to an exit node(with an internet connection), where it is picked up and verified by a miner and broadcasted to the Bitcoin network.

Undoubtedly, the problem of the availability of the Internet for implementing BTC-transactions must be solved and alternative ways must be sought. The idea of ​​darkwire looks promising and interesting, but in my opinion, there are problems that also need to be thought about. The use of radio waves to transmit information (everything new is well forgotten old) suggests itself, but there are nuances. This is the need for a transceiver (for every 10 km of the site). Currently, there are not so many radio amateurs and the era of radio communication has almost sunk into oblivion. Therefore, one of the problems I see is the shortage of specialists willing to do this (for every 10 km, such a user is needed, moreover, at least several, so that if one node is disconnected, another node is available, otherwise the chain will break). In theory, darkwire looks like an interesting project, but in practice it will face the problem of the availability of qualified radio amateurs. Ok. Let's say this problem is solved, but another one arises. In some regions, the authorities will simply block (jam) this range of radio frequencies, and may also impose a ban on the use of radio transceivers (for example, criminal punishment). And also, in some countries it is necessary to obtain a license for amateur radio communications. That is, if desired, this communication channel can be blocked.

[Ishicryptic]

I applaud developers that are trying to break the barriers of depending solely on the internet connection for Bitcoin transactions, it seems quite impossible today but I have learnt to never doubt what technology can do to add innovations to the norms that we are used to. Bitcoin has been designed to rely on the internet connection to broadcast transactions and since the internet is almost everywhere we have become comfortable to accept it. But innovations from developers like Darkwire, can make transactions possible if internet connections were to be distorted and areas where there is no connection. Too many reasons why it cannot work so I give them thumbs up for their efforts.

[arabspaceship123]

We're living in a tech loaded world so we won't need to send bitcoin unless there's internet failing's affecting many ppl. Sending bitcoin with out internet's probably good idea. Using sms to send bitcoin if ppl's internet connections fails would work in emergencies.

[Smartvirus]

Network has always been one of the downsides to sending and receiving Bitcoin since, it’s got to be broadcasted on the blockchain at some point and to do that, it’s just got to come online with an internet enabled device.
While Darkwire and a couple of other projects looking to solidify these projects, Bitcoin belongs on the internet and the best they could archive is just having to initiate this process which is far from processing it until they find an internet enabled device. It doesn’t look no different from what we have as I see it.

[Agbe]

All thesame with what am seeing you can't operate the equipment with out electricity because from what you are saying you need a radio wave to send signals and that too needs constant power and to an extend Internet is also needed so the idea is but but I don't see anything new about the Idea

[NotFuzzyWarm]

It's just a simple mesh network that is connected to at least 1 node tied to the internet. That kind of networking has been around for several decades so nothing new at all.

[arabspaceship123]

Tech stops working some times we know it fails so we shouldn't rely on one source. If we need to make or receive urgent bitcoin payments but the net isn't connecting it's better to have a system we're allowed to use in back up situations.

Network has always been one of the downsides to sending and receiving Bitcoin since, it’s got to be broadcasted on the blockchain at some point and to do that, it’s just got to come online with an internet enabled device.
While Darkwire and a couple of other projects looking to solidify these projects, Bitcoin belongs on the internet and the best they could archive is just having to initiate this process which is far from processing it until they find an internet enabled device. It doesn’t look no different from what we have as I see it.

[Rruchi man]

Thanks for sharing, mate. Five years is a long period of time, and I wonder what challenges the developer encountered that stopped him from seeing it through.

It is possible that the project is still on; maybe it just met a pause and not a stop. Some projects take a very long time to develop, some the lifetime of the developer just to get it right. The most successful developers are those who are also the most patient.

Most ideas will come to life if you can stay long enough with them.

[BenCodie]

How does Darkwire work?
Basically, Darkwire makes use of two key components: the Long Range Radio transceiver (LoRa) and microcontrollers (Ardoino UNO) to form a mesh of decentralized network. These are connected to multiple nodes that are within a distance range of 10 km or less, depending on the population density of the area.

While this is generally a cool tool, how often would a Bitcoin node be available within 10km's of someone who has no internet access at all and who need to use this to send Bitcoin?

In a world where the grid is down and the internet is out, does this tool serve any purpose with the limitation of 10km? Does it serve any purpose at all as most nodes would be down in an event like that? I could see this as a fantastic tool as a backup for an event like this, if limitations like needing to be within 10km of a node weren't posed. The next step is for this to work with satellite nodes. That would be revolutionary.

[MorganaX]

I saw similar projects before, but for Darkwire you need at least one node in the network needs to be connected to the internet.

Only realistic way for easily giving bitcoin to someone without internet is to use something like Satochip Satodime cards with pre-loaded Bitcoin.
This is physical card you are giving someone as a gift, just like you would give someone euro or dollar paper bills.
https://satochip.io/product/satodime/

Well this is something indeed.

It's really where the digital becomes physical. Although I have one question though, which is does the receiver not need to connect the internet to atleast claim or see the Bitcoin on the satodime ? Or can the chip be used on other platform like shops that accept Bitcoin or so ?

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the world has evolved so greatly that some of the things we watch and see on movies are actually coming to light and Bitcoin technology is one area which this advancement is rapidly growing.

[davis196]

Basically, Darkwire makes use of two key components: the Long Range Radio transceiver (LoRa) and microcontrollers (Ardoino UNO) to form a mesh of decentralized network. These are connected to multiple nodes that are within a distance range of 10 km or less, depending on the population density of the area. When a raw Bitcoin transaction is created, the Darkwire node receives the transaction and transmit it wirelessly. That is, it hops from node to node until it gets to an exit node(with an internet connection), where it is picked up and verified by a miner and broadcasted to the Bitcoin network.

1.Replacing the internet with radio? I think that replacing one technology with another is missing the whole point of the term "offline"
2.So after all, the transaction after the exit node still needs internet connection, which means that the whole system isn't completely "offline"
This is an interesting project, but I don't know how it can become profitable in the long run. Not a lot of people are going to use Darkwire and I don't know who is going to maintain those nodes, which are within a 10 km range. Maybe I don't fully understand the technical side of this project. Who maintains those LoRa transceivers and the Ardoino UNO microcontrollers?

[melinoe]

The idea is interesting, but the internet is still needed, and as it was said - who would maintain all of the receivers and non-receivers?

Only if the project were really hyped up I see it being propelled forward a bit, but I do need to get more into the technicalities of it.

[MGAMGA]

I came across this open-source project called Darkwire and I thought it's worth sharing. It's still in the developmental phase and was submitted for the Hackathon Bitcoin 2025 conference. It tends to address some of the challenges faced by Bitcoiners who live in areas where internet connection is unavailable ^{[either nonexistent or infrastructures are damaged by natural disaster]} or controlled ^{[taken offline by the the authorities].}

Darkwire mode of operation?
It's designed for sending both Bitcoin transactions and simple text messages offline.



How do I send Bitcoin?
First, you'll have to specify the receiving address as well as the amount in the Darkwire GUI or local wallet managed by bitcoinlib and tap on "generate transaction." The system will generate a signed Bitcoin transaction in hexadecimal format, which is further fragmented into smaller packets and transmitted to a nearby node via radio.

How does Darkwire work?
Basically, Darkwire makes use of two key components: the Long Range Radio transceiver (LoRa) and microcontrollers (Ardoino UNO) to form a mesh of decentralized network. These are connected to multiple nodes that are within a distance range of 10 km or less, depending on the population density of the area. When a raw Bitcoin transaction is created, the Darkwire node receives the transaction and transmit it wirelessly. That is, it hops from node to node until it gets to an exit node(with an internet connection), where it is picked up and verified by a miner and broadcasted to the Bitcoin network.

Currently, Darkwire supports Bitcoin only but the developer plans to add Ethereum and Monero in the future.

References:

• https://github.com/cyb3r17/darkwire
• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsVZjViFdM
• https://decrypt.co/322192/project-send-bitcoin-without-internet-access

It's Old news, Wiring via Antennas / Nodes fia RF or IF, it basically means it connects you to the internet Via the Node that is connected to the internet, it's not really Magic or some witchcraft mumbo Jumbo, it's basically making your Bitcoin wallet into a Car Key, and your Car itself is connected to Starlink, Personally i wouldn't trust it, not because it's darkwire, but it's easily to sniff that packet and alter it if you're within range, sooner or later Hackers will create a Device to sniff the packet contents and alter them/Deny them, PS: Most probably Darkwire themselves are making that to enhance cybersecurity, encrypt it, but it's not really much of a deal, it will not be needed anyway since there is internet almost everywhere on the entire planet, and i'm pretty sure one wouldn't want to send crypto from inside a tibetan Cave, if anything, this will be abused.

It will be abused by hackers and people that want to keep a low-profile, and it will end up creating more Crypto Chaos than it serves to organize it,
Darkwire will probably control the Nodes and have access to all the information as of where what and to who the transactions go to.

Best of luck for everyone, Keep your Cryptos in a Cold Wallet, and whenever you want to do transactions, just do it the old fashioned way, P2P or cash your crypto out.

Toodles